starting to walk

so my DS is starting to walk around by himself now for the past week and is doing very well. before he would push one of those little cars that they should sit on and push themselves. it was cute he would stand up and push this car all over the house up and down the hallway and back into the living room. but now he is also walking around alot by himself. i was wondering if anyone had noticed if their sleeping has been effected when they started walking. my DS wakes up all hours of the night and sometimes wont go back to sleep unless he is with me. my DD is starting to walk around now for the past 2 weeks with the cars also. she is also standing up on her own but plops back down on her butt after a few. her sleeping hasn't changed but i am worried that it might when she starts walking on her own also. i don't know how i would handle them both up all hours of the night

 

I feel like I will be right there with you in a month. One of my girls will stand on her own for minutes at a time ... and the other will push the little push toy all over the room. In fact, I think she is addicted to it!! The urge to push that thing overwhelms her and heaven forbid it get stuck on something ... she gets SO frustrated! Sometimes I let it get stuck just to watch the amazing transformation from ecstatic to frustrated ...

Mine are crying themselves to sleep at night (again ... we did CIO when they were 6 months old and did really well intil they started pulling up). Which makes me want to have an anxiety attack nightly ... but it is getting better. Instead of every night, it is every other night ... and instead of an hour it is a half hour ...

Anyway, my girls are the CHAMPS of developmental night wakings and fussiness. Have you read the book Touchpoints by T. Berry Brazelton? It is very helpful ... and it is from birth-3 years old and then he has another book ... from 3-6 years old ... so would even be applicable for a few more years. Very worth the 20 bucks IMO. He talks about EXACTLY what you are going through. I read ahead so know to expect this ... and for me, knowing what to expect keeps me sane. These are my first so I have no frame of reference! One year is a VERY big touchpoint and it helps to read what is going on in their little heads so that you can dissect the fussiness and night waking and put it in their perspective. It doesn't tell you a WHOLE lot about what to do about it ... but it does explain the physiology and is really interesting. He says that whatever you have used in the past to help them self-soothe (crying ... pat and shush ... etc ...) that you should revert to it now ... and whatever you do, don't pick them up or get them up to play b/c that will only reinforce the behavior. Also, if they have a comfort item (binky, lovey) that it may be helpful to let them have it even during the day if their feelings start to overwhelm them. I have been BIG on binkys and loveys only in the cribs until lately. I think that if it helps them cope with the extreme "mismatch of their desires and abilities" then so be it. I will cross the bridge of a 3 year old wanting her binky when I get to it.

Anyway, good luck and I will be keeping an eye out for what others say ... OH, I rue the day when I am going through this. I know it is right around the corner!

 

I am going to order that book today. these are my first also and i really would love to know whats coming next. he used to be a champ sleeper too. my DD is doing really great and they take 1 nap aday but they sleep for 3 hours. well DS doesn't but did for a week. i keep trying for the 2 naps but they won't go for it and if i wake them from their naps to get 2 naps a day they are cranky until their next nap which then i fight them to take. so i just let them go for the 3 hour nap and go from there.


edit: bought the book from amazon.com for 1.58

 

Mine have always had sleep disturbances when they are ready to hit a big development...rolling, crawling, walking, etc. It should be a passing phase.

On the other hand...WTG baby boy!! :clapping:

 

QUOTE(2xthelove @ Jul 6 2008, 02:45 PM) [snapback]862421[/snapback]
I am going to order that book today. these are my first also and i really would love to know whats coming next. he used to be a champ sleeper too. my DD is doing really great and they take 1 nap aday but they sleep for 3 hours. well DS doesn't but did for a week. i keep trying for the 2 naps but they won't go for it and if i wake them from their naps to get 2 naps a day they are cranky until their next nap which then i fight them to take. so i just let them go for the 3 hour nap and go from there.
edit: bought the book from amazon.com for 1.58


GOOD! What a great deal! A friend bought it for me ... she is a childhood development specialist and says it is the only book she agrees with through and through. I also bought The Happiest Toddler on the Block today ... I have heard it is a good one ... I haven't gotten very far, but it is interesting so far! Keep me posted! Also, I agree with pp and I forgot to mention ... YAY for your boy! What a great accomplishment!

 

Aidan just started walking and he's also had night wakings since then. I've heard a lot of good things about that book so I'm going to get it too.

Addison isn't walking yet, but she's been fighting naps. I wonder if that might be related to the big 1 year transition too.